Accidentally on Purpose

“I have always known Kristen Kish to be a person of deep emotional strength, intention, and focus. Over the last few years especially, I have come to understand more clearly what drives her. It’s never been about the end result, the lip service or the prospect of quick success. It has always been about the people she loves and what she can learn from her many unexpected adventures. Accidentally on Purpose shares her thrilling, at times heart-wrenching, and wildly serendipitous story, in her own words, for the very first time. Her unprecedented journey—from adoptee in small-town Michigan to household name and culinary icon—will move, humble, and entangle you in her warm, wide-open embrace.”—Gail Simmons, TV Host, Food Expert, and Author of Bringing It Home

"With her humble heart and calm intelligence, Kristen Kish discusses her life and career with candor and wonder, expresses her early sense of fear and shame, and relates points in time that reflect expectation, disappointment, and revelation. Like any great artist, she writes her story so we can know ours a bit better. Accidentally on Purpose is a recollection of what it means to become yourself, believe in your light, and allow life to help you chart your course rather than derail you. Kristen hasn't written a How-To guide. She's written a recipe for a life worth living: with purpose, curiosity, forgiveness, luck, and of course—what every recipe relies on—love."—Stacy London, TV host, designer, stylist, and author

“Kristen has one of those larger-than-life stories to tell, from her childhood to her journey as a rising chef to being known by every single food person in America. It would be a fairytale if it wasn’t all true!”—José Andrés, Chef and Bestselling Author

“Kristen Kish takes us on a journey filled with honesty and raw emotion. From a teenager feeling like an outsider to an empowered groundbreaker. Kristen leaves no crumbs! The world is a better place when people like Kristen stand in their truth a reminder everyone has a story.”—Tamron Hall, Emmy-award winning TV host, journalist and bestselling author

"Accidentally on Purpose is a candid journey of life and lessons learned. Kristen Kish brings the reader to the 'table' with stories that are inspiring, raw, and real. I never wanted to finish it."—Camila McConaughey, New York Times bestselling author of Just Try One Bite and founder of Women of Today

“In this powerful and touching memoir, Kristen Kish shares how finding herself as a chef paved the way for finding herself as the authentic, hilarious, and brilliant human we’ve all come to love on Top Chef. Kristen’s personal and singular story reveals universal truths we’ve all faced one way or another in our struggles to become our true selves. Accidentally on Purpose shows it’s the journey that matters most and makes us who we are.”—Tom Colicchio, Chef & Owner - Crafted Hospitality

"Finding her own voice and staying true to her values are at the heart of Kish’s engaging memoir...Some of her memoir's strongest moments detail the author's Top Chef triumph, her pain as a closeted gay woman in young adulthood, and her eventual coming out and living a full, authentic life."—Booklist

“Her reflective memoir is a pleasant invitation to follow her journey…an upbeat writer.”—Library Journal

“Delightful debut memoir…self-assured yet down-to-earth.”—Publishers Weekly